Southern District of Texas

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A federal jury in Corpus Christi has returned a guilty verdict against a 30-year-old local man for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

The jury deliberated for 17 minutes following a one-day trial before finding Michael Pulido guilty.

On Feb. 7, 2024, authorities arrived at a local apartment complex following a criminal mischief complaint. The investigation led them to Pulido who had fired four gunshots inside his apartment.

They checked his criminal history and discovered Pulido had been previously convicted of a felony. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition per federal law.  

At trial, the defense attempted to convince the jury that the gun belonged to someone else. They were not convinced and found him guilty as charged.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos presided over the trial and set sentencing for April 15, at which time Pulido faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Corpus Christi Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Yasmine Tucker and Ashley Martin prosecuted the case. 

HOUSTON – U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani has announced he will resign as chief law enforcement officer for the Southern District of Texas (SDTX) effective midnight Jan. 19.

“Serving as the 24th Presidentially Appointed U.S. Attorney for this incredible district has been the honor of a lifetime,” said Hamdani. “Over the past two years, we have made significant strides across multiple fronts, strengthening our community, upholding justice and ensuring safety for all citizens."

Hamdani was responsible for prosecuting and defending the interests of the United States in one of the largest districts in the country - covering 44,000 square miles and representing over nine million people. He oversaw over 400 employees, including approximately 200 Assistant U.S. Attorneys who cover the seven offices across the district.

In just over two years as U.S. Attorney, Hamdani led the office in approximately more than 10 thousand criminal cases against over 12 thousand defendants while maintaining an average 95% conviction rate. From fentanyl to the cartels, crimes involving children to human smuggling and white collar crime to cybercrime, Hamdani worked to ensure justice was served every day and the SDTX was a safe place to live.  

The Civil Division filed more than 2,500 cases in fiscal years 2023-2024, which included a historic $85 million settlement against a cardiac imaging company. “Patients deserve care based on their medical need and not on a doctor or company’s financial interest or gain,” Hamdani said. The Texas Medical Center also agreed to pay a record $15 million for allegations of concurrent billing claims for critical surgeries.

The office was at the forefront of numerous new and ongoing issues to include violent crime, which was at record levels when he took office. He made several announcements on numerous cases against felons illegally in possession of firearms to those involving known gang members. As part of those efforts, the office partnered with the Department of Justice’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section as part of the Department’s Violent Crime Initiative which contributed to a reduction in violent crime over the past two years. 

He also worked with the three other Texas U.S. Attorneys in a coordinated announcement on a statewide effort targeting machine gun conversion devices. 

Hamdani placed particular emphasis on cases linked to Mexican cartels, often noting how their violence spreads into the district. This included a matter out of the Galveston Division which saw the arrest of 23 in a poly-drug indictment. Noting that “Fentanyl-laced pills disguised as something else are killing our kids,” Hamdani and his office targeted those dealing the drug that destroys lives and families and anyone who provided it to others. As part of the effort, Hamdani also announced charges against a Chinese national for his alleged part in a conspiracy involving the importation of what is believed to be the largest amount of fentanyl precursors - chemicals used to make fentanyl - in the SDTX.

He also targeted cybercrime, often speaking and participating in numerous conferences on the topic. In one matter of note, the office helped disrupt a botnet that used hundreds of U.S.-based small office/home office routers so that People’s Republic of China state-sponsored hackers could monitor key parts of American infrastructure.

Spending much of his career prosecuting cases involving national security matters, Hamdani continued that focus as U.S. Attorney, from those attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization to another who allegedly exported U.S. technology to Iran. 

Hamdani’s office also targeted deadly human smuggling organizations, including a Brownsville matter that saw the conviction of six men who were charged in an alien smuggling ring which resulted in the death of eight people. To further combat the issue, the office also participated in Joint Task Force Alpha, which the Attorney General created to marshal and combat the rise in prolific and dangerous smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. And just a few weeks ago, as part of that mission, the office unsealed charges against several defendants for the death of over 50 migrants in an overturned trailer in Chiapas, Mexico. 

A similar issue due to the proximity to the border is human trafficking, and the office continued its efforts to combat this troubling crime throughout the district and provide for victims, such as a woman who received 30 years for forcing young girls to engage in commercial sex.

A father himself, Hamdani also sought to make sure those committing crimes against children were held accountable. One such criminal was recently sentenced to 100 years in prison for raping two children. On the other end of the spectrum, he emphasized protecting the elderly from those who take advantage of them, such as those who tricked a WWII veteran out of $300,000 to many that are involved in Indian call centers who often target the elderly. 

The office increased efforts to hold those committing white collar crime and health care fraud accountable, such as a Houston man who was convicted in a $160M Medicare fraud scheme. Another significant matter and a focus of the office was a company charged with violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act who agreed to pay $160 million. “Prosecuting and investigating this type of crime is an important role our office takes seriously in order to ensure fair and equal playing fields for U.S. companies and consumers,” Hamdani noted.  

In October 2023, Attorney General Merrick Garland picked Hamdani to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee. Hamdani, along with 13 other U.S. Attorneys, advised the Attorney General on behalf of the U.S. Attorney community. While in this role, he also led the Border and Immigration Law Enforcement Subcommittee which included U.S. Attorneys along the Northern and Southern borders working together to secure both those borders from transnational criminal organizations, cartels, gun, drugs and human smuggling. 

During his tenure, Hamdani made it a priority to get the news of the office’s important work to the people, so as to inform some and deter others from committing crime. He used multiple platforms, including the use of social media clips, to ensure these messages were heard. 

He is proud to have run his office under the “mama rule.” Citing his own mother’s history as a poor migrant and her age, his mantra was that you treat and protect others as you would your own “mama.”

Hamdani was the first Asian in Texas that was presidentially appointed and senate confirmed as U.S. Attorney. He was born in England to Indian parents who had moved there from India. The family immigrated to Texas when he was 10. He received his J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center in 1999 and his B.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin in 1993. 

Hamdani joined the SDTX in 2014, but has been with the Department of Justice since 2008. As an AUSA with the SDTX, he was primarily responsible for the investigation and prosecution of national security and official corruption crimes. From 2010 to 2014, Hamdani served in the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, holding the position of deputy chief from 2012 to 2014. Before that, he was an AUSA in the Eastern District of Kentucky.

Prior to his government service, Hamdani was in private practice. 

He is married and is a proud father of two teenagers, a University of Texas Longhorn and Bellaire High School Cardinal.

As he departs the office, he is reminded of the privilege he enjoyed to lead a group of dedicated public servants who work every day to make Texas safer, noting that “we love mercy, walk humbly and always, always, seek justice.”

HOUSTON – A 46-year-old Houston resident has been sentenced for trafficking narcotics, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Demitrios Ramon Jerry pleaded guilty June 20.

U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now ordered Jerry to serve 108 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court considered the fact that Jerry admitted to dealing fentanyl and meth out of a drug house in Houston’s Third Ward neighborhood. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the seriousness of the quantity of fentanyl.

A joint law enforcement operation revealed Jerry was selling narcotics from a drug house in Third Ward. Jerry sold counterfeit Percocet pills containing fentanyl and ecstasy pills containing meth.

During the operation, authorities searched the drug house and observed crack cocaine, powder cocaine, promethazine syrup and scales within the house.

Jerry was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart Tallichet prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 27-year-old former Webb County Sheriff’s deputy has been charged for allegedly depriving a victim of their right to bodily integrity and bodily privacy and falsification of records, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Ignacio Rodriguez IV is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher dos Santos at 9:41 am Jan. 9.

A federal grand jury returned the sealed two-count indictment Jan. 7, which was unsealed upon his arrest.

The indictment alleges that on Sept. 1, 2024, Rodriguez pulled over a car during the course of his duties. At that time, he sexually assaulted the victim driver and threatened use of a firearm, kidnapping, bodily injury, aggravated sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact, according to the charges. During the encounter, he also allegedly turned off his body-worn camera and dash camera, thereby obstructing justice.

If convicted, he faces up to life in prison as to the civil rights violation and up to 20 years in prison for falsification of records. The charges also carry fines of up to $250,000.

The FBI and Laredo Police Department are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leslie Ann Cortez and Brandon Scott Bowling are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

McALLEN, Texas – A 28-year-old Donna resident has been sentenced for utilizing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking activity, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Roberto Segura Jr. pleaded guilty Oct. 1, 2024.

U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now ordered Segura to serve 60 months in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release,

On July 24, 2024, authorities conducted a search warrant at Segura’s residence. At that time, they discovered marijuana, over 400 grams of cocaine and body armor within the home. Authorities also found a firearm in Segura’s bedroom next to the body armor. Segura admitted he was in possession of the firearm to protect himself during his drug trafficking activity.

Segura will remain in custody pending transfer to a Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Alamo Police Department conducted the joint investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan prosecuted the case as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program. In May 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced a new effort to reduce violent crime, including the gun violence that is often at its core. Integral to that effort was the reinvigoration of PSN, a two-decade old, evidence-based and community-oriented program focused on reducing violent crime. The updated PSN approach, outlined in the department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions. 

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 26-year-old Edinburg man has been convicted of unlawfully transporting an undocumented alien, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

The jury deliberated for an hour and a half following a less than two-day trial before finding Lisandro Vasquez-Gomez guilty.

On Aug. 29, 2024, Vasquez-Gomez drove to the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint where he told authorities he was hauling an empty trailer and was heading to Houston. He denied having any passengers in his vehicle. However, a K-9 alerted to the cab of the tractor where law enforcement located five people illegally present in the United States hidden behind the driver. 

At trial, the jury heard from some of those being transported who explained that smugglers had driven them to a remote area where a tractor-trailer was waiting. They did not see the driver, but the vehicle began moving shortly after they were concealed in the sleeper berth.

The defense attempted to convince the jury that authorities failed to fully investigate the smuggling attempt and that Vasquez-Gomez was simply hauling a decoy smuggling load. They did not believe those claims and found him guilty as charged on all three counts.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos presided over the trial and set sentencing for April 8, at which time Vasquez-Gomez faces up to five years in federal prison.

He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.  

Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Overman, Ashley A. Pruitt and Liesel Roscher prosecuted the case. 

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 58-year-old Corpus Christi resident has been sentenced to a total of 200 months in prison for meth trafficking and two supervised release violations, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Tony Maldonado aka Diablo pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute meth Feb. 1, 2024.

U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now ordered Maldonado to serve 188 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release for this offense. At the hearing, the court heard Maldonado was on supervised release for two other federal drug cases, one from 2000 involving meth and one from 2013 for possession with intent to distribute heroin, when he was once again arrested for distributing narcotics. The court also heard that Maldonado was a long-time member of the Texas Syndicate prison gang.

Following this sentencing, Judge Morales considered the two supervised release violations. He was ultimately sentenced to 50 and 24 months for the 2000 and 2013 cases, respectively. The court ordered the 50-month-term to be served concurrently and 12 of the 24 months to run consecutively to the current sentence for a total of 200 months in federal prison.

In handing down the sentences, Judge Morales noted Maldonado’s extensive criminal history and that there must be consequences for violating his supervised release.  

In mid-2023, law enforcement discovered Maldonado was distributing narcotics from his elderly parent’s home. After several months of investigation, authorities obtained a federal search warrant which they executed Aug. 29, 2023, at which time they seized  83.86 grams of heroin, 39.34 grams of meth and jail letters confirming his active status in the Texas Syndicate prison gang.

Maldonado will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of the FBI,  Corpus Christi Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Barbara J. De Pena and Brittany Jensen prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 28-year-old Laredo man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting and violating the civil rights of two women, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Hector Humberto Rodriguez Jr. was a correctional officer with the Webb County Sheriff’s Department during the commission of the offenses.

On two separate occasions, while working in his law enforcement capacity, he forcibly sexually assaulted two women while they were housed as inmates at the Webb County Jail.

In each instance in January 2022, Rodriguez removed the victims from their cell and isolated them in a secluded area where he then used force, threats of force and coercion to forcibly sexually assault them both. Both victims later came forward and identified Rodriguez as the guard that sexually assaulted them.

“A separate room devoid of witnesses became the setting where trust turned into terror, as Rodriguez, wielding the power bestowed upon him as a jailer, used force and coercion to commit heinous acts. Rodriguez is the worst kind of predator, one who abused his authority, praying upon some of the most vulnerable women in our community,” said Hamdani. “These were women that were in his care, women that he was supposed to look after and protect. Instead, he took advantage of their vulnerability and violated their civil rights for his own sick pleasures.”

U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña will impose sentencing at a later date. Rodriguez faces up to life in prison as well as potential fines of $250,000 for each of the two counts of conviction.

He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.

The FBI and Department of Justice - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Scott Bowling and Leslie Ann Cortez are prosecuting the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment for transporting and/or smuggling of a large group of undocumented aliens via tractor trailer, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Juan Manuel Aguirre, 49, is charged in a three-count indictment with conspiracy to transport an undocumented alien within the United States and the transportation of an undocumented alien within the United States for financial gain. He is expected to appear for his arraignment before a U.S. magistrate judge in the near future.

According to the criminal complaint originally filed in the case, On Dec. 2, law enforcement observed individuals being loading into a white trailer in a warehouse parking lot.

After the white truck that was hauling it departed the location, authorities conducted a traffic stop, according to the charges. A search allegedly resulted in the discovery of 101 non-U.S. citizens locked inside the trailer, including 12 unaccompanied children. The charges further allege two reported they had difficulty breathing and feared for their life due to the conditions in the trailer.

If convicted, Aguirre faces up to 10 years in prison for each of the three counts and fines of up to $250,000. 

Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, Texas Department of Public Safety and Border Patrol conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection, Drug Enforcement Administration and the Webb County Sheriff’s Office. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

McALLEN, Texas – A 55-year-old McAllen resident has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Mayela Saby Cantu admitted she knowingly participated in a scheme that used falsified lien payoff statements, fraudulent warranty deeds and deceptive emails to mislead lenders, title companies and property buyers.

From November 2020 until her arrest, Cantu defrauded buyers and lenders in multiple property transactions while working at Sierra Title in McAllen. Using her position of trust, she facilitated closings backed by falsified documents. In one notable case, she directed others to create a fraudulent email address resembling that of a legitimate lienholder. Cantu then used the fake account to send false payoff amounts via interstate wires, leading a title company to improperly disburse more than $350,000.

Cantu facilitated additional fraudulent property transactions, including arranging closing on properties that had already been sold and accepting undisclosed cash payments. By concealing the true nature of these deals, she caused significant financial harm to the affected parties.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane will impose sentencing March 3, 2025. At that time, Cantu faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. 

She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

The FBI, McAllen Police Department and Texas Department of Insurance conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric D. Flores is prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – A 49-year-old Houston man has been convicted illegally possessing six firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. 

Christopher Curry admitted he was a convicted felon and planned to exchange the guns for marijuana. 

At the time of his arrest Oct. 17, authorities found him in possession of six firearms. In his vehicle were a shotgun, a pistol and several semiautomatic rifles. 

Curry has three felony convictions to include two drug possessions and being a felon in possession of a firearm. As such, he is prohibited of possessing firearms or ammunition per federal law. 

Senior U.S. District Judge Sim Lake accepted the plea and set sentencing for March 14, 2025. At that time he faces up to 15 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine. 

He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing. 

The Houston Police Department Northeast Crime Suppression Team and the Department of Public Safety conducted the joint investigation with the assistance of the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Crime Gun Strike Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Ganz is prosecuting the case. 

HOUSTON – Three Houston residents were sentenced to prison following their convictions of robbing commercial businesses with guns, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Thaddeaues Malik Williams, 26, Tydreic Deon Sublet, 24, and Andre Palmer-Gilliams, 33, pleaded guilty Oct. 19, 2023, Sept. 9 and Aug. 12, respectively.

U.S. District Judge George Hanks has now ordered Williams, Sublet and Gilliams to serve 199, 233 and 210 months in federal prison, respectively. All three must also serve three years of supervised release. 

On July 1, 2019, Williams, Sublet and Gilliams entered Rice Village Diamonds, where customers and employees were present, dressed in construction attire. They used firearms to steal jewelry from four glass cabinets. Authorities later identified the suspects after recovering a Gatorade bottle they left inside the store.

On Aug. 14, 2019, the trio entered Woodforest National Bank inside Gallery Furniture. Subtle pointed a firearm at customers and disarmed a security officer, while Williams jumped over the counter, ordered tellers to open their drawers and stole cash.

Authorities responded and pursued the suspects as they fled in a vehicle. The chase ended when the vehicle crashed into a ditch near a residential area, at which time they fled on foot. Authorities eventually apprehended them and recovered the security guard’s gun, other firearms and the stolen money.

They will remain in custody pending transfer to a Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Houston Police Department and the FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill Jenkins Stotts prosecuted the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A 42-year-old Illinois resident has been sentenced for importing meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Cruz Vargas, Jr. pleaded guilty on March 4, 2023.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Vargas to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.

On July 24, 2022, Vargas tried to enter the United States from Mexico through the Rio Grande Port of Entry with large containers loaded in his vehicle. Law enforcement referred him for a secondary inspection after he claimed the containers held vitamins. A narcotics detection K-9 alerted to the vehicle, leading authorities to test the containers, which confirmed the presence of meth.

At the time of his plea, Vargas admitted to transporting drugs.

The meth weighed over 50 kilograms.

Vargas will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A 57-year-old Houston man has appeared in federal court for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud and engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Jesus Carlos Silva made his initial appearance before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Ho at 2 p.m. 

According to the indictment filed Dec. 17, Silva ran a scheme to defraud immigrants from March 2022 until December 2024. He allegedly falsely promised to help them obtain U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status.  

The charges allege Silva made false statements and misrepresentations to persuade victims to pay him thousands of dollars. He allegedly posed as an immigration attorney affiliated with Houston-based law firm, despite not being an attorney. 

It is alleged that Silva targeted victims, most of whom lacked legal immigration status, and claimed he could secure their citizenship or legal status. He allegedly told some victims he had a close contact at U.S. Citizenship and Immigrations Services (USCIS) who would expedite their applications. Silva charged victims between $7000 and $15,000 each, according to the charges. 

The indictment further alleges Silva did not provide any assistance to victims regarding their immigration status and failed to secure legal status for them. Instead, he allegedly offered excuses for the lack of progress on their applications and eventually cut off communications. 

The charges allege Silva repeatedly instructed victims to travel to Houston for fake appointments with USCIS. When they arrived, Silva allegedly gave excuses for his absence, and they discovered no such appointments had been scheduled.

If convicted, Silva faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service and Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Feinstein and Rodolfo Ramirez are prosecuting the case.

An information is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 42-year-old resident of San Benito has been sentenced for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Salvador Cortez-Nava aka Chava pleaded guilty Aug. 24, 2023.

U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now ordered Cortez-Nava to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that described Nava ordering the kidnapping of a co-conspirator and threatened harm over the loss of several drug loads. In handing down the sentence, the court approved the government’s request to forfeit assets obtained through drug proceeds.

“The Mexican Gulf Cartel is one of Mexico's oldest criminal syndicates, engaging in drug trafficking, violence, human smuggling, and more, reflecting the complex challenges posed by the cartels along Texas’s border with Mexico,” said Hamdani. “Salvador Cortez-Nava, aka Chava, demonstrated his allegiance to this cartel by coordinating the distribution of cocaine and employing ruthless tactics, including ordering kidnappings and threats of violence. His actions underscored the perilous influence of the cartel as he transported drug proceeds back into Mexico. By sending Cortez-Nava to prison, justice delivers another blow against the Gulf Cartel’s violent hold on the narcotics trade.” 

“The hard work of our agents leading up to this victory demonstrates Homeland Security Investigation’s (HSI) unique authorities and expertise in financial investigations to combat organized crime,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of HSI - San Antonio. “Through a multi-agency task force, we uncovered over $1.5 million in drug proceeds and seized more than 150 kilograms of cocaine; this amount of poison has no place in our country.”

“The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) aggressive enforcement continues to hurt the drug trafficking business by shutting down Cortez Nava's significant cocaine trafficking network,” said Special Agent in Charge of the Houston Division Daniel C. Comeaux. “Regardless of the rank or the level of sophistication used to traffic drugs and money, the DEA has always been able to disassemble the structure these drug cartels have in place to move poison into American communities and successfully eradicate the threat.

Cortez-Nava was a key player in a large-scale cocaine trafficking network, importing significant quantities of cocaine from Mexico. He oversaw the transportation and distribution across multiple U.S. cities, including in the Rio Grande Valley as well as North Carolina, Ohio, Georgia, Florida and Indiana.”

Cortez-Nava’s criminal organization employed sophisticated methods, such as using vehicles with hidden compartments at ports of entry to smuggle cocaine from Matamoros, Mexico, into the United States. He also supervised the recruitment of individuals to carry out these smuggling operations.

A multi-agency task force investigating several narcotics and cash seizures from 2016 to 2020 determined Cortez-Nava led the organization.

A series of drug and money seizures resulting from Cortez-Nava’s orders included $501,145.00 in drug proceeds concealed inside a vehicle in February 2016 and 1.10 kilograms of cocaine in April 2017 that was intended to be distributed. After that drug seizure, authorities discovered an additional 48.35 kilograms of cocaine belonging to the Gulf Cartel. These seizures were followed by seizures of 29.45 kilograms of cocaine and $269,996.00 in 2018, and 68.3 kilograms of cocaine and over $812,000 in 2019.

During the investigation, authorities seized over $1.5 million in proceeds and approximately 150 kilograms of cocaine.

As part of his guilty plea, Cortez-Nava agreed to forfeit several properties, a vehicle, two firearms and various jewelry, watches and other items.

Cortez-Nava will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

HSI and DEA conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of the Brownsville Police Department and Customs and Border Protection. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug trafficking organizations and other criminal networks that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal state and local enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Oscar Ponce and Zachary Blackmon prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A 45-year-old Cypress resident has been sentenced for aiding and abetting engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Nicah Anderson pleaded guilty Aug. 9.

U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison ordered Anderson to serve 24 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by one year of supervised release.

“Anderson selfishly prioritized his profits over public safety,” said Hamdani. “Anderson claimed his gun store was not as profitable as he hoped, but that’s no excuse for turning a blind eye so many suspect gun sales. Today, the court held him accountable for his wrongdoing. Just as important, he is now forced to disgorge his ill-gotten gains.” 

“Violent crime threatens the safety and wellbeing of every community, and illegal firearms trafficking fuels that violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael Weddel of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “It is our duty to ensure that those who exploit the system, especially licensed gun dealers who break the trust placed in them, are caught and held accountable. We are taking critical steps toward reducing violent crime and protecting innocent lives by targeting those who enable the flow of illegal firearms.”

Anderson was a federal firearms licensee and former majority owner and operator of NE Guns.

Between December 2022 and March 2023, Anderson allowed people to straw purchase numerous firearms. Some included Barret .50 caliber, military-grade sniper rifles; FN SCAR 17S, .308 caliber rifles and 9 millimeter pistols. These guns are known weapons of choice for Mexican drug cartels.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant at NE Guns July 19, 2023. Among other things, they seized 266 firearms, 138,940 rounds of ammunition, seven silencers and NE Guns’ business records.

The investigation found that between October 2022 and August 2023, NE Guns received $115,000 from purchases suspected straw purchasers made.

As part of the investigation, Imran Ali, 28, Spring, Averyl Pereyra, 27, Houston, and Ammar Ali, 26, Spring, admitted to conspiracy to straw purchase firearms.

According to their plea agreements, Imran Ali was prohibited from purchasing firearms and enlisted Pereyra - his girlfriend – and his brother - Ammar Ali - to purchase firearms for him. Imran Ali would select the firearms, arrange the purchases and have Pereyra and Ammar Ali make the purchases. Imran Ali would then quickly resell the guns, which resulted in at least $97,700 in profits.

In total, the group purchased 60 firearms, six of which were later recovered at crime scenes in Mexico.

U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison will impose sentencing Feb. 11, 2025. At that time, they each face up to five years in federal prison. All remain on bond pending that hearing.

Anderson was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The ATF conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kate Suh and John Ganz prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A 42-year-old Houston resident has been sentenced for his role in the transmission in interstate commerce containing a threat to injure the person of another, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Jeremy James Joseph represented himself at the re-arraignment and sentencing and entered a guilty plea Dec. 13. 

U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now ordered Joseph to serve 16 years in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence detailing the sadistic way Joseph repeatedly threatened his victims. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Joseph did not show remorse for his actions or the harm he caused his victims.

Joseph admitted during his plea hearing to sending threatening emails to multiple victims, including judges, lawyers and court personnel in the Harris County judicial system over a two-year period. These messages included explicit threats, including a threat to “rage gunfire and bombs on Harris County,” as well as graphic descriptions of the violence he intended to commit.

Joseph also admitted to sending similar emails to news media outlets, universities and hospitals both within and outside the Houston area. The emails contained not only threats but also numerous racial, homophobic and ethnic slurs, amplifying the severity of his actions. 

Joseph declined the opportunity to address the court during his sentencing, opting not to speak on his own behalf. 

“Jeremy James Joseph's despicable actions involved sending heinous threats through emails to judges, lawyers and public officials over two years, expressing intentions to commit unparalleled violence and chaos,” said Hamdani. “His conduct breached the safety and peace of mind essential for public servants to carry out their duties effectively. My office’s commitment to protecting public officials from such unparalleled threats ensures the integrity and continuous functioning of our justice system, prevents fear and chaos from taking root in its operations and keeps Mr. Joseph off the streets for the next 16 years.”

Joseph will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard D. Hanes is prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – A 38-year-old Mexican citizen illegally residing in Houston has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport and harbor aliens resulting in death, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Efrain Rodriguez-Mendoza is last of six to be convicted as part of the scheme that resulted in the death of two people. Wilmar Rene Duran-Gomez, 52, a citizen of El Salvador illegally residing in Houston, entered his plea Dec. 9.

“These defendants violated the trust of victims when they agreed to transport them to a safe place in the United States,” said Hamdani. “Instead, they brutalized them and beat them to death, all because they could not pay to be released. These violent criminals will no longer be able to prey on victims and their families.”

“In my 29 years working in law enforcement, I’ve unfortunately had to witness some unspeakable horrors, but what these men did to these migrants is pure evil and among the most reprehensible and vile criminal actions I’ve ever encountered,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) - Houston Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz. “Thanks to the dedicated special agents and law enforcement officers who tirelessly worked to uncover their identities and connect them to these crimes, they will be held accountable for their actions, but I plead with anyone thinking of relying on human smugglers to illegally enter the United States to stop and think about the potential consequences. Not only are you jeopardizing your ability to ever obtain legal status in the country, you’re putting your life in the hands of merciless transnational criminal organizations that routinely assault, kidnap and even murder the people they are paid to supposedly help.”

Between Nov. 6-17, 2006, Rodriguez-Mendoza and Wilmar Rene Duran-Gomez engaged in a scheme together and with others to harbor illegal aliens in Houston. They would then transport them to locations within Texas and throughout the United States for the purpose of financial gain.

Duran-Gomez operated a warehouse business in Houston where conspirators held illegal aliens until they paid their smuggling fees or had transportation arranged. While held there, they were placed in two groups - paid and unpaid. Those in the unpaid group were beaten and accused of trying to escape the warehouse. They were also not given food or water or even allowed to use the restroom. Some were naked and had their hands bound.

Conspirators would call their families to demand payment of smuggling fees. They said the aliens were being beaten and would be killed if their fees were not paid.  

Two of those in the unpaid group were subjected to the most brutal of the beatings and died as a result of days of assaults. Following the deaths, Rodriguez-Mendoza, Duran-Gomez and Jose Bolanos wrapped the two victims with blankets, loaded them onto a truck and dosed the bodies with gasoline. They drove to a field in Fort Bend County and attempted to set the truck on fire, but failed. They left the truck in the field with the victims’ bodies inside the vehicle. 

Authorities located the victims approximately Nov. 16, 2006.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt accepted the pleas and set sentencing for March 2025. At that time, they face up to life in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Both men have been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.

HSI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Houston Police Department and Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jill Jenkins Stotts and Lisa M. Collins prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A 38-year-old  Mexican citizen illegally residing in Houston has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport and harbor aliens resulting in death, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Efrain Rodriguez-Mendoza is last of six to be convicted as part of the scheme that resulted in the death of two people. Wilmar Rene Duran-Gomez, 52, a citizen of El Salvador illegally residing in Houston entered his plea Dec. 9.

“These defendants violated the trust of victims when they agreed to transport them to a safe place in the United States,” said Hamdani. “Instead, they brutalized them and beat them to death, all because they could not pay to be released. These violent criminals will no longer be able to prey on victims and their families.”

“In my 29 years working in law enforcement, I’ve unfortunately had to witness some unspeakable horrors, but what these men did to these migrants is pure evil and among the most reprehensible and vile criminal actions I’ve ever encountered,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) - Houston Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz. “Thanks to the dedicated special agents and law enforcement officers who tirelessly worked to uncover their identities and connect them to these crimes, they will be held accountable for their actions, but I plead with anyone thinking of relying on human smugglers to illegally enter the U.S. to stop and think about the potential consequences. Not only are you jeopardizing your ability to ever obtain legal status in the country, you’re putting your life in the hands of merciless transnational criminal organizations that routinely assault, kidnap and even murder the people they are paid to supposedly help.”

Between Nov. 6-17, 2006, Rodriguez-Mendoza and Wilmar Rene Duran-Gomez engaged in a scheme together and with others to harbor illegal aliens in Houston. They would then transport them to locations within Texas and throughout the United States for the purpose of financial gain.

Duran-Gomez operated a warehouse business in Houston where conspirators held illegal aliens until they paid their smuggling fees or had transportation arranged. While held there, they were placed in two groups - paid and unpaid. Those in the unpaid group were beaten and accused of trying to escape the warehouse. They were also not given food or water or even allowed to use the restroom. Some were naked and had their hands bound.

Conspirators would call their families to demand payment of smuggling fees. They said the aliens were being beaten and would be killed if their fees were not paid.  

Two of those in the unpaid group were subjected to the most brutal of the beatings and died as a result of days of assaults. Following the deaths, Rodriguez Mendoza, Duran Gomez and Jose Bolanos wrapped the two victims with blankets, loaded them onto a truck and dosed the bodies with gasoline. They drove to a field in Fort Bend County and attempted to set the truck on fire, but failed. They left the truck in the field with the victims’ bodies inside the vehicle. 

Authorities located the victims approximately Nov. 16, 2006.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt accepted the pleas and set sentencing for March 2025. At that time, they face up to life in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Both men have been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Houston Police Department and Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jill  Jenkins Stotts and Lisa M. Collins prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A 37-year-old Houston resident has been sentenced for production and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Robert Alexander Shouse pleaded guilty June 6 to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, one count of attempted sexual exploitation of a child and one count of possession of child pornography.

U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has sentenced Shouse to a total of 360 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence regarding the seven victims including a minor victim who Shouse sexually abused, recorded and distributed the images and videos. The court heard that Shouse secretly recorded minors, preyed upon them online and obtained child pornography from two other minors without their knowledge.

One of the victims, who was a minor at the time of the offense, was present at the hearing and addressed the court.  The victim told the court that Shouse had filled a void for him and his grandmother after his parents were incarcerated. The victim stated that Shouse portrayed himself as a superhero, but was in fact, the villain. 

The court ordered Shouse to pay $153,500 in restitution to the victims and will serve 10years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Shouse will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

“Robert Shouse is the embodiment of evil,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. “He used money and gifts to sexually abuse a nine-year-old child for six years. He used his computer skills to target hundreds of children, stealing their innocence and shattering their lives. In essence, there was nothing he wouldn’t do to satisfy his sick fantasies. Today’s sentence helps ensure that Shouse’s fantasies won’t become another child’s nightmare for decades to come.”

“Robert Shouse engaged in horrific sexual abuse of minors, created child sexual abuse material involving those minors, and facilitated the trafficking of thousands of sexually explicit images and videos of minors through a dark web site that he controlled,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The defendant’s sexual exploitation of vulnerable children is despicable. The Criminal Division is fully committed to using all available tools to investigate and prosecute sexual crimes against children.”

“The deviant, criminal actions of monsters like Robert Shouse are unforgivable and leave permanent trauma for their child victims,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams of the FBI Houston field office. “When these images and videos are posted and exchanged online, the victimization continues in

perpetuity. Children are re-victimized as long as documentation of their sexual abuse is on the internet, available for others to access forever. This case is an example of the FBI’s commitment, and that of our national and international partners, to go after those who abuse one of our most vulnerable populations- our children.”

Law enforcement identified Shouse in 2018 as an administrator for a CSAM website on the dark web which allowed facilitation of the sexual exploitation of minors while keeping secret the identities of the perpetrators. In his role, Shouse maintained the website which allowed users to post links to images and videos of CSAM. These links allowed a user to navigate to other websites, such as file-hosting websites where images and/or videos are stored, to download images and videos of child sexual abuse and child erotica. Additionally, forum users could discuss the sexual abuse of children.

Authorities seized and terminated the website’s operation in 2019.

In January 2019, authorities executed a search warrant at Shouse’s residence and seized multiple electronic devices. Forensic examination of the devices revealed more than 117,000 images and over 1,100 videos depicting children engaged in sexually explicit conduct including anal and vaginal penetration, masturbation, sadistic/masochistic conduct and lewd exhibition of genitalia.

Over 4,000 images depicted the sexual exploitation of babies and toddlers.

Additionally, law enforcement found images and videos of seven minor victims whom Shouse knew. Through the investigation, authorities learned he sexually abused one minor victim for a period of six years beginning when the victim was nine years old. Shouse befriended the child and provided money and gifts to the victim’s family. Shouse created over 925 images of child sexual abuse and 33 videos of this minor.

In some of these images, Shouse made the victim wear a dog collar.

Law enforcement found that Shouse had also secretly recorded two other minors, one in the bathroom and other in bedroom, and solicited two others online, asking them to send naked pictures of themselves. He also managed to download naked pictures of a couple who had shared them privately between them.

Shouse will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

FBI-Texas City conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office, Montgomery County Precinct Three Constable’s Office and Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office. The Justice Department thanks the Dutch National Police and United Kingdom National Crime Agency for their valuable assistance.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Ann Leo and Trial Attorney James E. Burke IV from the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page. 

A man was sentenced today in the Southern District of Texas to 30 years in prison for production and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

According to court documents, Robert Alexander Shouse, 37, of Houston, was identified by law enforcement in 2018 as an administrator for a CSAM website on the dark web that facilitated the sexual exploitation of minors while keeping secret the identities of the perpetrators. In his role, Shouse maintained the website, which allowed users to post links to images and videos of CSAM. These links allowed a user to navigate to other websites, such as file-hosting websites where images or videos were stored and to download images and videos of child sexual abuse and child erotica. Additionally, forum users could discuss the sexual abuse of children. Authorities seized the website and terminated its operation in 2019.

“Robert Shouse engaged in horrific sexual abuse of minors, created child sexual abuse material involving those minors, and facilitated the trafficking of thousands of sexually explicit images and videos of minors through a dark web site that he controlled,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The defendant’s sexual exploitation of vulnerable children is despicable. The Criminal Division is fully committed to using all available tools to investigate and prosecute sexual crimes against children.”

“Robert Shouse is the embodiment of evil,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas. “He used money and gifts to sexually abuse a nine-year-old child for six years. He used his computer skills to target hundreds of children, stealing their innocence and shattering their lives. In essence, there was nothing he wouldn’t do satisfy his sick fantasies. Today’s sentence helps ensure that Shouse’s fantasies won’t become another child’s nightmare for decades to come.” 

“For more than 10 years, Shouse relentlessly exploited and victimized the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “In a world where technology allows child exploitation material to be spread across borders with ease, those who exploit children for their own depraved purposes must face the consequences of the harm they inflicted on their victims. Today’s sentencing is more than just a punishment. It’s a message to the community that the FBI will always work with our partners to ensure there is one less predator out there victimizing the most innocent among us — our children.”

In January 2019, authorities executed a search warrant at Shouse’s residence and seized multiple electronic devices. Forensic examination of the devices revealed more than 117,000 images and more than 1,100 videos depicting children engaged in sexually explicit conduct including anal and vaginal penetration, masturbation, sadistic and masochistic conduct and lewd exhibition of genitalia. Over 4,000 images depicted the sexual exploitation of babies and toddlers.

Additionally, law enforcement found images and videos of seven minor victims whom Shouse knew personally. Through the investigation, authorities learned that he sexually abused one minor victim for a period of six years beginning when the victim was nine years old. Shouse had befriended the child and provided money and gifts to the victim’s family. Shouse created over 925 images and 33 videos of child sexual abuse of this minor. In some of these images, Shouse made the victim wear a dog collar.

Law enforcement found that Shouse had also secretly recorded two other minors — one in the bathroom and the other in the bedroom — and solicited two other minors online, asking them to send naked pictures of themselves to him. He also managed to download naked pictures of a couple who had shared the images privately between themselves.

Shouse pleaded guilty on June 6 to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, one count of attempted sexual exploitation of a child, and one count of possession of child pornography. In addition to his term of imprisonment, Shouse was ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release, pay $153,500 in restitution to the victims, and register as a sex offender. Shouse will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The FBI Houston Field Office, Texas City Resident Agency investigated the case, with the assistance of the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office, Montgomery County Precinct Three Constable’s Office, and Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office. The Justice Department thanks the Dutch National Police and United Kingdom National Crime Agency for their valuable assistance.

Trial Attorney James E. Burke IV of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Ann Leo for the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

HOUSTON – A Houston resident and his naturalized wife from Vietnam have received prison sentences for unlicensed money transmitting and money laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Vinh Quang Phan and Diana Le Phan entered guilty pleas June 18.

U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison has now sentenced Vinh Phan and Diana Phan to 120 months in federal prison. Each will also serve three years of supervised release following their prison terms. The judge ordered the Phans to pay $80,000 in fines and forfeit their Houston home, $16,198 in cash seized at the time of their arrests and more than $470,000 in seized accounts.

During the hearing, the court learned the Phans had already achieved the American dream and were wealthy before choosing to embark on a life of crime. In handing down the sentence, Judge Ellison remarked “This is one of the least sympathetic cases of need I have encountered.” He added: “All of this was foreseeable. I wish people would think about their families before they commit crimes, rather than invoking their families now.”

“Crime flourishes only when it pays, and Vinh and Diana Phan helped it pay, for years, to the tune of more than $33 million. Now their bill is due,” said Hamdani. “These sentences acknowledge the harm that professional money launderers cause when they knowingly circulate dirty money and subvert the integrity of our banking system.”

“Our special agents reviewed records from more than 20 financial institutions and virtual currency companies, and worked with the task force to execute approximately 40 search warrants and interview dozens of witnesses to unravel the defendants complex scheme to transmit and launder millions in illicit proceeds,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Lucy Tan, of IRS Criminal Investigation’s (CI) Houston Field Office. “When people hear about IRS CI, they often don’t realize the work we do to take down organized crime and criminal financial operations. We are law enforcement officers that specialize in following the money.”

The Phans operated an unlicensed money transmitting business that transmitted funds received in the form of U.S. currency aka bulk cash. They earned at least some of this money, which included more than $9 million bulk cash received from others, from the trafficking, distribution and sale of controlled substances.

During the course of the approximately 21-month conspiracy, the unlicensed money transmitting business received and transmitted more than $33 million. The Phans introduced this bulk cash into the banking system through more than nine “money mules.” The Phans then used the funds to buy virtual currency which was sold for cash in California - the state where the controlled substances originated.

The Phans used virtual currency to eliminate the risk of driving cash across the country, which was one way they transmitted cash prior to January 2020. The Phans were robbed at gunpoint while on the road in October 2019 and had $440,000 stolen from their vehicle.

The Phans did not register their money transmitting business with the Department of the Treasury nor did the state of Texas license them to engage in money transmission.

The Phans were permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to  U.S. Bureau of Prisons facilities to be determined in the near future.

The IRS Criminal Investigation-led South Texas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Financial Crimes Task Force conducted the investigation with assistance from Drug Enforcement Administration, Houston Police Department and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Bauman and Eun Kate Suh prosecuted the case with assistance from Deputy Chief Brandon Fyffe of the Asset Recovery Section.  

McALLEN, Texas – A 29-year-old Mexican resident has been sentenced for her role in straw purchasing firearms to export to Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Martha Padron pleaded guilty Sept. 11 to making false statements during a purchase of a firearm. 

U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now ordered Padron to serve 21 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Padron communicated with another to purchase firearms so that the firearms could be exported to Mexico. The court also learned Padron purchased 58 firearms from 2021 to 2023. On many occasions, she crossed from Mexico into the United States, purchased the firearm and returned to Mexico the same day. 

On or about May 2, 2022, Padron falsely claimed on required forms to reside in the United States.  However, the investigation revealed Padron lived in Mexico and often crossed into the United States to purchase firearms. Further investigation revealed the ongoing nature of Padron’s criminal activity

She will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Theodore Parran III and Cahal P. McColgan prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 36-year-old Laredo resident has been charged with producing videos involving the sexual exploitation of minors, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Carlos Jobany Castaneda Lechuga is expected to appear for a detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher dos Santos at 10 a.m.  

The complaint, filed Dec. 2, alleges authorities learned of videos that appeared to be produced in the United States and distributed on the dark web. The videos allegedly include an adult male seen with what appears to be different minor children in at least three different videos.

The charges allege law enforcement identified the male as Lechuga. He had been a private teacher in Phoenix, Arizona, and a professor in Laredo. The investigation also revealed Lechuga offers private music lessons targeted toward minors, according to the charges.  

On Dec. 1, the FBI executed a search warrant on Lechuga’s residence in Laredo. The charges allege a person familiar with the house had identified Lechuga’s residence as the location where at least one of the videos was produced.  

If convicted, Lechuga faces up to 30 years in federal prison for production of child pornography as well as a maximum of 20 years for each count of distributing it. All charges also carry as possible penalty a $250,000 maximum fine.  

The FBI conducted the investigation. If you have any information about possible victims or believe you have been victimized, please contact the FBI at 210-225-6741. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tory Sailer and Michael Makens are prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the  resources tab on that page.

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

HOUSTON - A 34-year-old Houston resident has been federally indicted for repeatedly abusing his authority as a City of Houston urban park ranger by stopping, detaining and assaulting victims who visited city parks late at night, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

A federal grand jury returned an indictment Dec. 3 charging Joey Lamar Ellis with 20 counts representing accusations of civil rights violations perpetrated against eight victims.

He is expected to make his initial appearance at 2 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Edison.

According to the charges, Ellis positioned his city-issued vehicle behind the victims’ vehicles to prevent them from leaving. In many instances, he allegedly confiscated their driver’s licenses and/or cell phones. Ellis falsely accused his victims of committing various crimes and threatened their cars would be towed or they would be arrested, according to the charges.

As the encounter progressed, Ellis allegedly offered the victims a way out of being towed, charged and arrested. On some occasions, Ellis allegedly  demanded money. On others, he assaulted his victims and at times demanded sexual acts, such as groping one victim, forcing another to strip naked and sexually assaulting another, according to the charges. During multiple instances, Ellis allegedly utilized his firearm in such a way to threaten his victims. He also instructed at least one victim to not tell anyone, according to the charges.

“The indictment accuses Ellis of leveraging his authority to intimidate victims, demanding money or, in more disturbing instances, forcing them into unwanted sexual acts,” said Hamdani. “This alleged breach of public trust underscores the horror of those using their power for alleged unlawful gains, leaving communities questioning the integrity of their protectors.”

If you believe you have been a victim or know someone who has, please fill out a quick this quick Seeking Victims online FBI form or contact the FBI Houston Field Office at 713-693-5000.

The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sharad Khandelwal and Rebekah Saunders are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

LAREDO, Texas – A 32-year-old Laredo man has pleaded guilty to selling a firearm to a felon, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Ricardo Estevis Jr. was the operating officer of Rick’s Armory LLC in Laredo and admitted to illegally manufacturing firearms without a license.

On Feb. 15, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at his home and business. It resulted in the discovery of at least 13 firearms that Estevis made in violation of several federal laws and was incompatible with his dealer-only federal firearms license.

Estevis admitted making the firearms - some of which were illegal to make or possess without a special license - and had them for sale at his home business.

After his arrest, Estevis surrendered his federal firearms license on behalf of the business and personally agreed to stop acquiring firearms inventory and transferring firearms to the public as of April 24.

“Estevis abused the privilege of a federal firearm license by intentionally selling a pistol to a five-time convicted felon and by making illegal firearms and lying about it,” said Hamdani. “He pursued financial profits over the safety of our citizens. The protection of our communities from criminals with guns is one of my primary responsibilities, something I take very seriously.”

U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña will impose sentencing at a later date. At that time, Estevis faces up to 15 years for selling the pistol. The conviction also carrys up to $250,000 maximum possible fine.

Estevis was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with assistance from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility, Laredo Police Department and the Webb County Sheriff’s Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Homero Ramirez is prosecuting the case which is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

HOUSTON – A 52-year-old Pearland man has agreed to pay $948,359.85 to resolve allegations he submitted false claims for the surgical implantation of neurostimulator electrodes, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Dr. Basem Hamid is a neurologist and pain medicine doctor who practices in Houston. Basem Hamid MD PA is an entity Hamid used to conduct his medical practice.  

From Aug. 27, 2019, to Oct. 3, 2022, Hamid billed Medicare for the surgical implantation of neurostimulator electrodes. These are invasive procedures usually requiring use of an operating room. As a result, Medicare pays thousands of dollars per procedure.

However, neither Hamid nor his staff performed these surgical procedures, according to the allegations. 

Instead, patients allegedly received devices used for electro-acupuncture, which only involved inserting monofilament wire a few millimeters into patients’ ears and taping the neurostimulator behind the ear with an adhesive. All device placements took place in Hamid’s clinic, not a hospital or surgical center, and no incision was made on a patient, according to the allegations. Many patients claimed the adhesive came loose and the device fell off on its own accord within a few days.

“Individuals suffering from chronic pain put their faith in skilled medical professionals to help them find relief and improve their quality of life,” said Hamdani. “Our federal health care system entrusts providers with the medical care of our country’s most vulnerable, and it is important for healthcare providers to give accurate information about the services they provide for reimbursement – not misrepresent those services in an attempt to increase their bottom line.”

“When health care professionals submit false claims to federal health care programs like Medicare, they erode public trust and divert taxpayer-funded resources away from those who truly need them,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General (DHHS-OIG). “Dr. Hamid not only exploited Medicare for personal financial gain but also misled some of our most vulnerable citizens, according to the allegations. DHHS-OIG and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the integrity of federal health care programs.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office conducted the investigation with DHHS-OIG. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura E. Collins handled the matter.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

HOUSTON – An international enforcement operation has resulted in the arrest of five Guatemalan human smugglers linked to the Dec. 9, 2021, mass casualty event in Chiapas, Mexico, where a semi-trailer truck containing at least 160 migrants — many of whom were Guatemalan nationals — crashed, resulting in the deaths of more than 50 people and injuring over 100 more.

The operation was the result of coordination between the Justice Department and Guatemalan authorities and marks the third anniversary of the tragic event.

Authorities have now taken Guatemalan national Jorge Agapito Ventura, 32, Cleveland, into custody. He is expected to make his initial appearance Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Edison. 

At the request of the United States, Guatemalan law enforcement also acted on provisional arrest warrants for Tomas Quino Canil, 36; Alberto Marcario Chitic, aka Alberto De Jesus, 31,; Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Quino, aka Osvaldo ZQ, 24: and Josefa Quino Canil De Zavala, 42. All have been indicted in the Southern District of Texas in connection with the investigation.

According to the indictment unsealed upon the arrests, from October 2021 to February 2023, all conspired with other smugglers to facilitate the travel of migrants from Guatemala though Mexico with the intended destination of the United States. They allegedly recruited Guatemalan migrants, collected payment and arranged for travel to the United States. In some instances involving the smuggling of unaccompanied minors, they allegedly provided scripts and instructions on what to say if apprehended.

Some of the migrants they had recruited died or suffered serious bodily injury as result of the Dec. 9, 2021, crash, according to the charges.

“The Justice Department is holding accountable the individuals who we allege preyed on vulnerable migrants and are responsible for this heinous crime that resulted in the deaths over 50 people and injured over 100 more. Human smugglers should heed these charges and arrests as a warning: you will be held accountable for your deadly crimes,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Since we launched Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) more than three years ago, we have secured more than 330 domestic and international arrests and more than 275 convictions on smuggling offenses, as well as significant jail sentences and substantial forfeitures. We will continue to work across agencies and across borders to stop the scourge of human smuggling.”

“Today, the alleged perpetrators of an abhorrent crime — one that resulted in the senseless deaths of more than 50 migrants and the injury of more than 100 others — are being held accountable, thanks to the investigative work of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents and our federal and international partners,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “The tragedy that occurred three years ago today in Chiapas is further proof that human smugglers are ruthless, callous and dangerous — intending migrants should not believe their lies. DHS will continue to disrupt and dismantle illegal human smuggling operations and help bring those who perpetrate such horror to justice.”

“Three years ago today, in Chiapas, Mexico, a place known for natural wonder and cultural richness, a scene of unimaginable tragedy unfurled,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas (SDTX). “Our investigation into this catastrophic event that killed over 50 people, including children, signifies the unwavering commitment of the SDTX to hold those who engage in human smuggling accountable, irrespective of where their actions or the resultant harm occur. While this crash transpired beyond our borders, it is imperative that the pursuit of justice transcends those boundaries. Today, we reiterate our commitment to ensuring that those allegedly responsible for exploiting the vulnerabilities of families seeking refuge and opportunity face the full force of the law.”

“The indictment unsealed today alleges that the defendants conspired to smuggle Guatemalan migrants, including minors, to the United States, and that some of these migrants died when the tractor trailer they were riding in overturned in Chiapas, Mexico,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s announcement — on the three-year anniversary of the victims’ deaths — demonstrates the Criminal Division’s commitment to holding smugglers accountable, no matter where they may be, for their indifference to human life in their callous pursuit of profit. I am proud of the outstanding work by the prosecutors and investigators of JTFA, and I am grateful for our partnership with the Guatemalan authorities, whose assistance was essential in this investigation and prosecution.”

“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, along with our law enforcement partners from JTFA, worked tirelessly to investigate, locate, and apprehend those responsible for this heinous act,” said HSI Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger. “Now, three years later, I proudly stand with our colleagues from the Justice Department to announce that we have made these apprehensions. HSI remains committed to dismantling human smuggling networks that exploit and mislead migrants, often subjecting them to dangerous and abusive conditions. These illicit organizations profit by preying on vulnerable populations, and HSI works assiduously to disrupt their operations. I want to express my sincere appreciation to all of our law enforcement partners in the United States, Guatemala, and Mexico for their invaluable work to bring this investigation to fruition.”

HSI’s Global Investigation Group in Washington D.C. conducted the investigation in partnership with HSI Guatemala and HSI Mexico. HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit provided valuable assistance as did Customs and Border Protection National Targeting Center; DHS Operation Sentinel; Border Patrol; Liberty County Constable, Precinct 6; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, Houston; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, Beaumont Division; and Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) and Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT). The Justice Department thanks Guatemalan and Mexican law enforcement officials, who were instrumental in furthering this investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Day for the Southern District of Texas is prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorney Danielle Hickman of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) with substantial assistance from HRSP Latin American Specialist/Historian Joanna Crandall.

The indictment is the result of the coordinated efforts of JTFA. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland created JTFA in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Justice Department, in partnership with the DHS, to combat the rise in prolific and dangerous smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. The initiative was expanded to Colombia and Panama to combat human smuggling in the Darién in June 2024. JTFA comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern and Western Districts of Texas, District of New Mexico, District of Arizona and Southern District of California. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by HRSP and supported by OPDAT, the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Office of Enforcement Operations, OIA and Violent Crime and Racketeering Section.

JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from the DHS, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in over 330 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of human smuggling; over 275 U.S. convictions; over 225 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.

An indictment is merely an allegation.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

View the indictment here.

View U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani's video recorded remarks here.

An international enforcement operation today resulted in the arrest of five Guatemalan human smugglers linked to the Dec. 9, 2021, mass casualty event in Chiapas, Mexico, where a semi-trailer truck containing at least 160 migrants — many of whom were Guatemalan nationals — crashed, resulting in the deaths of more than 50 people and injuring over 100 more. The operation was the result of coordination between the Justice Department and Guatemalan authorities and marks the third anniversary of the tragic event.

At the request of the United States, Guatemalan law enforcement acted on provisional arrest warrants for Tomas Quino Canil, 36; Alberto Marcario Chitic, also known as Alberto De Jesus, 31; Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Quino, also known as Osvaldo ZQ, 24; and Josefa Quino Canil De Zavala, 42. A fifth Guatemalan national, Jorge Agapito Ventura, was arrested at his residence in Cleveland, Texas. All five Guatemalan nationals have been indicted in the Southern District of Texas in connection with the investigation.

According to the indictment unsealed today, from October 2021 to February 2023, the defendants conspired with other smugglers to facilitate the travel of migrants from Guatemala though Mexico with the intended destination of the United States. The defendants allegedly recruited Guatemalan migrants, collected payment, and arranged for travel to the United States. In some instances involving the smuggling of unaccompanied minors, the defendants provided scripts and instructions on what to say if apprehended. Some of the migrants recruited by the defendants died or suffered serious bodily injury as result of the Dec. 9, 2021, crash.

“The Justice Department is holding accountable the individuals who we allege preyed on vulnerable migrants and are responsible for this heinous crime that resulted in the deaths over 50 people and injured over 100 more. Human smugglers should heed these charges and arrests as a warning: you will be held accountable for your deadly crimes,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Since we launched Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) more than three years ago, we have secured more than 330 domestic and international arrests and more than 275 convictions on smuggling offenses, as well as significant jail sentences and substantial forfeitures. We will continue to work across agencies and across borders to stop the scourge of human smuggling.”

“Today, the alleged perpetrators of an abhorrent crime — one that resulted in the senseless deaths of more than 50 migrants and the injury of more than 100 others — are being held accountable, thanks to the investigative work of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents and our federal and international partners,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “The tragedy that occurred three years ago today in Chiapas is further proof that human smugglers are ruthless, callous, and dangerous — intending migrants should not believe their lies. DHS will continue to disrupt and dismantle illegal human smuggling operations and help bring those who perpetrate such horror to justice.”

“The indictment unsealed today alleges that the defendants conspired to smuggle Guatemalan migrants, including minors, to the United States, and that some of these migrants died when the tractor trailer they were riding in overturned in Chiapas, Mexico,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s announcement — on the three-year anniversary of the victims’ deaths — demonstrates the Criminal Division’s commitment to holding smugglers accountable, no matter where they may be, for their indifference to human life in their callous pursuit of profit. I am proud of the outstanding work by the prosecutors and investigators of JTFA, and I am grateful for our partnership with the Guatemalan authorities, whose assistance was essential in this investigation and prosecution.”

“Three years ago today, in Chiapas, Mexico, a place known for natural wonder and cultural richness, a scene of unimaginable tragedy unfurled,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas. “Our investigation into this catastrophic event that killed over 50 people, including children, signifies the unwavering commitment of the Southern District of Texas to hold those who engage in human smuggling accountable, irrespective of where their actions or the resultant harm occur. While this crash transpired beyond our borders, it is imperative that the pursuit of justice transcends those boundaries. Today, we reiterate our commitment to ensuring that those allegedly responsible for exploiting the vulnerabilities of families seeking refuge and opportunity face the full force of the law.”

“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, along with our law enforcement partners from JTFA, worked tirelessly to investigate, locate, and apprehend those responsible for this heinous act,” said HSI Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger. “Now, three years later, I proudly stand with our colleagues from the Justice Department to announce that we have made these apprehensions. HSI remains committed to dismantling human smuggling networks that exploit and mislead migrants, often subjecting them to dangerous and abusive conditions. These illicit organizations profit by preying on vulnerable populations, and HSI works assiduously to disrupt their operations. I want to express my sincere appreciation to all of our law enforcement partners in the United States, Guatemala, and Mexico for their invaluable work to bring this investigation to fruition.”

HSI’s Global Investigation Group in Washington D.C. investigated the case in partnership with HSI Guatemala and HSI Mexico. Valuable assistance was provided by HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit; the Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center; Operation Sentinel; U.S. Border Patrol; Liberty County Constable, Precinct 6; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, Houston; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, Beaumont Division; and Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) and Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training (OPDAT). The Justice Department thanks Guatemalan and Mexican law enforcement officials, who were instrumental in furthering this investigation.

Trial Attorney Danielle Hickman of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Day for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from HRSP Latin American Specialist/Historian Joanna Crandall.

The indictment of these defendants is the result of the coordinated efforts of JTFA. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland created JTFA in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Justice Department, in partnership with DHS, to combat the rise in prolific and dangerous smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. The initiative was expanded to Colombia and Panama to combat human smuggling in the Darién in June. JTFA comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern and Western Districts of Texas, District of New Mexico, District of Arizona, and Southern District of California. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by HRSP and supported by OPDAT, the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Office of Enforcement Operations, OIA, and Violent Crime and Racketeering Section.

JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from the Department of Homeland Security, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in over 330 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of human smuggling; over 275 U.S. convictions; over 225 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Vea la acusación here.

Vea las declaraciones videograbadas del fiscal Alamdar Hamdani here.

Una operación internacional de aplicación de la ley resultó hoy en el arresto de cinco traficantes de personas guatemaltecos vinculados al siniestro masivo del 9 de diciembre de 2021 en Chiapas, México, donde un camión semirremolque que contenía al menos 160 migrantes, muchos de ellos ciudadanos guatemaltecos, se estrelló, provocando la muerte de más de 50 personas e hiriendo a otros más de 100.  El operativo fue resultado de la coordinación entre el Departamento de Justicia y las autoridades guatemaltecas, y marca el tercer aniversario del trágico suceso.

A solicitud de Estados Unidos, las autoridades guatemaltecas de aplicacion de la ley  ejecutaron órdenes de arresto provisionales contra Tomás Quino Canil, de 36 años; Alberto Marcario Chitic, también conocido como Alberto De Jesús, de 31 años; Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Quino, también conocido como Osvaldo ZQ, de 24 años; y Josefa Quino Canil De Zavala, de 42 años. Un quinto ciudadano guatemalteco, Jorge Agapito Ventura, fue arrestado en su residencia en Cleveland, Texas. Los cinco ciudadanos guatemaltecos han sido acusados ​​en el Distrito Sur de Texas en relación con la investigación.

Según la acusación revelada hoy, desde octubre de 2021 hasta febrero de 2023, los acusados ​​conspiraron con otros traficantes para facilitar el viaje de migrantes desde Guatemala a través de México con el destino previsto de Estados Unidos. Los acusados ​​supuestamente reclutaron a migrantes guatemaltecos, cobraron y organizaron viajes a los Estados Unidos. En algunos casos

relacionados con el tráfico de menores no acompañados, los acusados ​​proporcionaron guiones e instrucciones sobre qué decir si eran detenidos. Algunos de los inmigrantes reclutados por los acusados ​​murieron o sufrieron lesiones corporales graves como resultado del accidente del 9 de diciembre de 2021.

“El Departamento de Justicia está haciendo rendir cuentas a los individuos que presuntamente se aprovecharon de migrantes vulnerables y son responsables de este crimen atroz que causó la muerte de más de 50 personas y heridas a otros más de 100. Los traficantes de seres humanos deben tener en cuenta estos cargos y detenciones como una advertencia: tendrán que rendir cuentas por sus crímenes mortales”, dijo el fiscal general Merrick B. Garland. “Desde que pusimos en marcha la Fuerza de Tarea Conjunta Alfa (JTFA) hace más de tres años, hemos conseguido más de 330 detenciones nacionales e internacionales y más de 275 condenas por delitos de tráfico ilícito, así como importantes penas de cárcel y cuantiosas confiscaciones. Seguiremos trabajando con todos las agencias y a través de las fronteras para acabar con la lacra del tráfico de seres humanos”.

“Hoy, los presuntos autores de un crimen abominable, uno que resultó en la muerte sin sentido de más de 50 migrantes y las lesiones de otros más de 100, están siendo responsabilizados gracias a la labor de investigación de los agentes del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS) y nuestros socios federales e internacionales”, dijo el secretario de Seguridad Nacional Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “La tragedia ocurrida hoy hace tres años en Chiapas es una prueba más de que los traficantes de personas son despiadados, crueles y peligrosos, los migrantes no deben creer sus mentiras. El DHS continuará interrumpiendo y desmantelando las operaciones ilegales de tráfico de personas y ayudando a llevar ante la justicia a quienes perpetran tal horror”. 

“La acusación revelada hoy alega que los acusados ​​conspiraron para contrabandear migrantes guatemaltecos, incluidos menores, a Estados Unidos, y que algunos de estos migrantes murieron cuando el camión en el que viajaban volcó en Chiapas, México”, dijo la subdirectora fiscal general Adjunta Principal, Nicole M. Argentieri, jefa de la División Criminal del Departamento de Justicia. “El anuncio de hoy, en el tercer aniversario de la muerte de las víctimas, demuestra el compromiso de la División Criminal en hacer rendir cuentas a  los contrabandistas, sin importar dónde se encuentren, por su indiferencia hacia la vida humana en su cruel búsqueda de ganancias. Estoy orgullosa del excelente trabajo de los fiscales e investigadores de la Fuerza de Tarea Conjunta Alfa, y estoy agradecida por nuestra asociación con las autoridades guatemaltecas, cuya asistencia fue esencial en esta investigación y proceso penal”.

“Hoy hace tres años, en Chiapas, México, un lugar conocido por sus maravillas naturales y riqueza cultural, ocurrió una escena de tragedia inimaginable”, dijo el fiscal federal estadounidense Alamdar Hamdani. “Nuestra investigación sobre este evento catastrófico que mató a más de 50 personas, incluidos niños, significa el compromiso inquebrantable del Distrito Sur de Texas de hacer rendir cuentas a quienes participan en el tráfico de personas, independientemente del lugar donde se produzcan sus actos o el daño resultante. Si bien este accidente se produjo más allá de nuestras fronteras, es imperativo que la búsqueda de la justicia trascienda esas fronteras. Hoy reiteramos nuestro compromiso de garantizar que los presuntos responsables de explotar las vulnerabilidades de las familias que buscan refugio y oportunidades enfrenten todo el peso de la ley”.

“Los agentes especiales de Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), junto con nuestros colaboradores de aplicación de la ley de JTFA, trabajaron incansablemente para investigar, localizar y detener a los responsables de este atroz acto”, dijo Katrina W. Berger, directora ejecutiva adjunta de HSI. “Ahora, tres años después, me siento orgullosa de estar junto a nuestros colegas del Departamento de Justicia para anunciar que hemos realizado estas aprehensiones. HSI mantiene su compromiso de desmantelar las redes de tráfico de seres humanos que explotan y engañan a los migrantes, frecuentemente sometiéndolos a condiciones peligrosas y abusivas. Estas organizaciones ilícitas obtienen beneficios aprovechándose de poblaciones vulnerables y HSI trabaja asiduamente para interrumpir sus operaciones. Quiero expresar mi sincero agradecimiento a todos nuestros socios de la aplicación de la ley en Estados Unidos, Guatemala y México por su invaluable trabajo para llevar a buen término esta investigación”.

El Grupo de Investigación Global de HSI en Washington D.C. investigó el caso en asociación con HSI Guatemala y HSI México. Valiosa asistencia fue brindada por la Unidad de Contrabando de Personas de HSI; el Centro Nacional de Búsqueda de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza; Operación Centinela; Patrulla Fronteriza de Estados Unidos; Alguacil del Condado de Liberty, Precinto 6; Inmigración y Control de Aduanas, Operaciones de Ejecución y Remoción, Houston; Fiscalía Federal para el Distrito Este de Texas, División Beaumont; y la Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales (OIA) y la Oficina de Desarrollo, Asistencia y Capacitación de Fiscales en el Extranjero (OPDAT) del Departamento de Justicia. El Departamento de Justicia agradece a los oficiales de aplicación de  la ley de Guatemala y México, que desempeñaron un papel decisivo en el avance de esta investigación.

La abogada litigante Danielle Hickman de la Sección de Derechos Humanos y Procesamientos Especiales (HRSP) de la División Criminal y la fiscal federal adjunta para el Distrito Sur de Texas, Jennifer Day, están procesando el caso, asistencia sustancial de la historiadora/especialista latinoamericana de HRSP, Joanna Crandall.

La acusación de estas personas  ​​es el resultado de los esfuerzos coordinados de la JTFA. El fiscal general Merrick B. Garland creó la JTFA en junio de 2021 para unir los recursos de investigación y procesamiento del Departamento de Justicia, en asociación con el DHS, para combatir el aumento de prolíficos y peligrosos grupos de contrabando y trata que operan en México, Guatemala, El Salvador y Honduras. La iniciativa se amplió a Colombia y Panamá para combatir el tráfico de personas en el Darién en junio. La JTFA está integrada por funcionarios de las Fiscalías Federales a lo largo de la frontera suroeste, incluidos los distritos sur y oeste de Texas, el distrito de Nuevo México, el distrito de Arizona, y el Distrito Sur de California.

Numerosos componentes de la División Criminal del Departamento de Justicia, dirigidos por HRSP y apoyados por OPDAT, la Sección de Narcóticos y Drogas Peligrosas, la Sección de Lavado de Dinero y Recuperación de Activos, la Oficina de Operaciones de Cumplimiento, la OIA y la Sección de Delitos Violentos y Extorsión, brindan apoyo dedicado.

La JTFA también depende de una inversión sustancial en materia de aplicación de la ley por parte del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional, el FBI, la Administración de Control de Drogas (DEA) y otros socios. Hasta la fecha, el trabajo de la JTFA ha resultado en más de 330 arrestos nacionales e internacionales de líderes, organizadores y facilitadores importantes del tráfico de personas; más de 275 condenas en Estados Unidos; más de 225 sentencias de cárcel importantes impuestas; y decomisos de activos sustanciales.

Una acusación formal es simplemente una alegación. Se presume que todos los acusados ​​son inocentes hasta que se demuestre su culpabilidad más allá de toda duda razonable en un tribunal de justicia.

McALLEN, Texas – An 18-year-old Alamo resident has pleaded guilty to utilizing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking activity, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

On May 29, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Emiliano Cabriales was a passenger. During a subsequent search, law enforcement discovered a firearm concealed beneath the seat where Cabriales had been sitting.

Further investigation revealed approximately 14 grams of cocaine, packaged in individual baggies, hidden inside Cabriales' pants. He admitted to possessing the cocaine. He further admitted he had the firearm in case he had to protect himself and the drugs.

U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton will impose sentencing March 11, 2025. At that time, he faces up to life in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Cabriales has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Alamo Police Department conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan is prosecuting the case as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program. In May 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced a new effort to reduce violent crime, including the gun violence that is often at its core. Integral to that effort was the reinvigoration of PSN, a two-decade old, evidence-based and community-oriented program focused on reducing violent crime. The updated PSN approach, outlined in the department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions. 

LAREDO, Texas – A 66-year-old Mexican man has been sentenced for his role in smuggling fentanyl into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Juan Hernandez Alcantar pleaded guilty Aug. 6.

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo has now ordered him to serve 168 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, Alcantar is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, Judge Marmolejo noted Alcantar’s role as a leader/organizer, how deadly and dangerous fentanyl is and the number of deaths that could result from such a large amount of drugs.

In July 2023, Alcantar recruited drug mules to transport fentanyl and cocaine. He had been residing at his daughter’s residence and was using her vehicle to conduct his drug operation. During the scope of the conspiracy, Alcantar arranged for the smuggling of 2,194 grams of fentanyl, 1,200 grams of heroin and 2,100 grams of cocaine.

Authorities learned Alcantar was going to be smuggled to San Antonio in a tractor trailer with other undocumented aliens in an effort to evade the Border Patrol checkpoint north of Laredo. They were able to stop the trailer and take him into custody. 

Alcantar is an undocumented alien who has a history of illegally entering the United States and committing criminal offenses. 

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from Border Patrol as part of the South Texas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Task Force. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Terence A. Check Jr. prosecuted the case assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Hakala-Finch.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 23-year-old San Benito man has been ordered to federal prison after attempting to run over an FBI agent while trying to evade arrest in a stolen vehicle, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Damian Evans Lopez pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal officer Sept. 9.  

U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now ordered him to serve 110 months to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. Judge Olvera enhanced the sentence for use of a motor vehicle as a deadly weapon, reckless endangerment during flight and official victim adjustments. At the hearing, the court heard how Lopez had a history of placing law enforcement and the public in danger given his three prior felony convictions for evading arrest with motor vehicles.

On June 28, an FBI agent was engaged in an investigation involving stolen vehicles being illegally exported into Mexico. He identified a stolen Chevrolet truck parked near the Gateway International Bridge Port of Entry in Brownsville and called for assistance.

The agent was wearing FBI gear with clear law enforcement markings and began approaching the vehicle. Authorities asked Lopez to exit from the driver’s seat, but he failed to do so. Instead, he turned the vehicle’s wheels to exit the parking space and aggressively accelerated directly at the FBI agent.

He managed to jump out of the way of the accelerating vehicle and avoided serious injury and or death by mere inches.

Authorities apprehended Lopez in San Benito, following a high-speed vehicle chase through the streets of Brownsville and onto the freeway. The pursuit, which lasted 20 minutes, involves speeds exceeding 100 mph.

He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The FBI and Brownsville Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel Castro prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A 35-year-old Houston resident has been sentenced for distribution and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. 

Emilio Santiago De Los Santos pleaded guilty April 16.

U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now ordered De Los Santos to a total of 97 months in prison. He was further ordered to pay restitution to the victims and will serve 10 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. De Los Santos will also be ordered to register as sex offender.

“As a high school teacher, De Los Santos held a special trust, charged with watching over the children in his care. At the same time, he was sharing his own stash of child pornography with like-minded offenders and that’s what makes this crime especially abhorrent,” said Hamdani. “The exploitation of children has no place in our community and my office will vigorously prosecute those involved in the distribution and possession of child pornography to the fullest extent of the law, in particular a teacher like De Los Santos.”

“The FBI’s violent crimes against children squad consists of very special individuals who work every day to identify, investigate and arrest predators like De Los Santos,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams of the FBI’s Houston Field Office. “Today’s sentencing is another testament to their commitment and dedication to protect our children from these types of monsters.”

De Los Santos came to the attention of law enforcement after he shared multiple child pornography files in various subgroup chatrooms on the Keybase application. Authorities obtained a search warrant for De Los Santos’s residence and seized his electronic devices. 

A forensic examination of those devices resulted in the discovery of 853 images and 380 videos of child pornography. The material included depictions of sexual abuse of infants and toddlers, sadistic and masochistic conduct involving children under the age of 12 and bestiality.

At the time of his arrest, De Los Santos was a high school teacher in the greater Houston area.

He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The FBI conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherin Daniel prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.

HOUSTON – A Houston woman who worked as a contractor for a national bank has been taken into custody on wire fraud and conspiracy charges, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.  

Jaysha Victorian, 23, has already made her initial appearance in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo. 

A federal grand jury returned the two-count indictment Nov. 20, which was unsealed upon her arrest. 

In the span of just a few weeks in January 2021, Victorian allegedly utilized her access to the victim bank’s systems to load prepaid debit cards with fraudulent credits when she knew no such credits were warranted. The charges allege the debit cards included prepaid cards that were used to provide unemployment benefits, including for the state of California.   

According to the indictment, cardholders were able to withdraw the fraudulent funds from bank branches and ATMs before the credited money could be rescinded. 

Victorian’s conduct allegedly resulted in over $8 million of fraudulent credits, over $7 million of which were withdrawn or used.  

If convicted, Victorian faces up to 20 years in prison for the wire fraud charge as well five years for the conspiracy. Both convictions also carry fines of up to $250,000.  

The FBI, Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General (OIG) and Department of Labor-OIG conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brad Gray and Karen Lansden are prosecuting the case.  

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

McALLEN, Texas – A self-admitted member of the Westside gang has been sentenced  for possessing destructive devices and utilizing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking activity, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Jamez Aaron Sandoval, 26, of San Juan, pleaded guilty on Sept. 19. 

U.S. Chief District Judge Randy Crane has now imposed a total sentence of 120 months in the Bureau of Prisons to be immediately followed by 3 years of supervised release.  At the hearing, the Court learned Sandoval attempted to make a homemade grenade, carried a firearm during a grenade transaction and recorded himself firing fully automatic weapons. In handing down the prison terms, Judge Crane noted that Sandoval promoted violence with his social media post of an individual firing a firearm equipped with a machinegun conversion device towards law enforcement.

On Aug. 1, authorities arrested Sandoval after he purchased two grenade-style destructive devices from an ATF undercover agent. Law enforcement then conducted a search of his residence and found cocaine, marijuana, drug dealing paraphernalia as well as firearms. Sandoval previously sold law enforcement machinegun conversion devices before asking to purchase the grenades.

Further investigation revealed Sandoval used a firearm found in the residence for protection during the commission of drug trafficking activities.

Sandoval has been and will remain in custody pending his transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. 

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Alamo Police Department conducted the joint investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan prosecuted the case as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program. In May 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced a new effort to reduce violent crime, including the gun violence that is often at its core. Integral to that effort was the reinvigoration of PSN, a two-decade old, evidence-based and community-oriented program focused on reducing violent crime. The updated PSN approach, outlined in the department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions. 

McALLEN, Texas – A 44-year-old resident of McAllen has pleaded guilty to unlawfully being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

On June 25, 2023, Michael Gallegos-Martinez was driving a Cadillac CTS when he failed to come to a complete stop. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop, at which time they noticed Gallegos-Martinez appeared nervous. He claimed there were no firearms or narcotics within the vehicle. However, a K-9 alerted, and authorities conducted search of the vehicle which resulted in the discovery of a firearm Rossi, Model 461, .357 caliber magnum revolver in a grocery bag hanging from the gear shift. They also discovered 25 grams of cocaine, a bottle of Xanax pills and approximately $25,000 in cash. 

The investigation revealed Gallegos-Martinez had previously served as a police officer before being convicted of a felony for possession of a controlled substance. As a felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition per federal law.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane accepted the plea and has set sentencing for Feb. 2, 2025. At that time, Gallegos-Martinez faces up to 15 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

He has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with assistance from the Alamo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose A. Garcia is prosecuting the case.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

HOUSTON – A 37-year-old Houston man has been sentenced for his role in operating an illicit manufacturing and distribution ring of pills containing meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Marco Juarez pleaded guilty June 16, 2023.

U.S. District Judge Gray Miller has now imposed a 120-month-term of imprisonment to be followed by five years of supervised release.

Alexander Fernandez, 33, Christopher Houser, 36, and Alexis Sandoval, 26, all of Houston, also pleaded guilty and were previously sentenced. The leader – Fernandez – received 20 years, while Houser and Sandoval were ordered to serve respective terms of 36 and 120 months. In handing down the sentences, Judge Miller noted the serious nature of distributing pills to customers who were unaware that what they believed to be Adderall in fact contained meth.

“These conspirators manufactured and distributed large quantities of fake Adderall pills that actually contained meth in order to make money at the expense of the health and safety of others,” said Hamdani. “The public must be aware that while counterfeit pills may look like legitimate prescription drugs, they may actually contain a deadly controlled substance. Instead of ingesting quality-controlled products of a heavily regulated prescription drug industry, users of counterfeit drugs may be putting powerful crystal meth into their bodies, which leads to increased addiction rates and health risks.”

“Trafficking counterfeit prescription medications laced with deadly and highly addictive narcotics is extremely dangerous and has been a major contributor to the ongoing drug epidemic that is destroying communities across the country,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Kurtz. “Leveraging HSI’s unique cross-border authorities and extensive expertise in cyber and narcotics investigations, we were able to pierce the veil of anonymity that these drug traffickers falsely believed they possessed by operating on the dark web to expose their conspiracy and hold them accountable for their actions.”

In 2020, law enforcement discovered Fernandez was ordering pill press machines, pill stamps, dyes and bulking agents frequently used in illicit pill manufacturing.

The investigation revealed the ring was manufacturing the pills within local residences - first on Yale Street in the Houston Heights neighborhood and later at two separate locations in Fulshear.

Fernandez was behind the logistics of the pill manufacturing ring while Juarez supplied the organization with the meth used as the active ingredients. Houser produced the pills using the pill press machines. Sandoval was responsible for the packaging and mailing of pills from orders placed on the dark web.

A search warrant executed in October 2020 at the Fulshear manufacturing residence revealed approximately seven kilograms of “ice” meth and four kilograms of meth in the form of Adderall pills and powder.

Additionally, almost five kilograms of Adderall pills were found at a second Fulshear residence where they packaged the pills for mailing out to dark web buyers.

The pill press operation was also responsible for manufacturing and distributing “Alprazolam” pills containing Etizolam, a central nervous system depressant with sedative-hypnotic and muscle relaxant effects.

Juarez was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen M. Lansden prosecuted the case. 

HOUSTON – A 53-year-old Sugar Land man has agreed to pay $2,095,946 to resolve allegations he submitted false claims for the placement of electro-acupuncture devices, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Dr. Rajesh Bindal used the entity Texas Spine & Neurosurgery Center P.A. to conduct his medical practice. From March 16, 2021, to April 22, 2022, Bindal billed Medicare and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) for the surgical implantation of neurostimulator electrodes. 

These are invasive procedures usually requiring use of an operating room. As a result, Medicare and the FEHBP pay thousands of dollars per procedure. 

However, neither Bindal nor his staff performed these surgical procedures, according to the allegations. 

Instead, patients allegedly received devices used for electro-acupuncture, which only involved inserting monofilament wire a few millimeters into patients’ ears and taping the device behind the ear with an adhesive. In some instances, a device sales representative or a physician assistant allegedly performed these placements, which were then billed as surgeries. All device placements took place in Bindal’s clinic, not a hospital or surgical center, and no incision was made on a patient. Most patients claimed the adhesive came loose and the device fell off on its own accord within a few days.

“A neurosurgeon, like Bindal, should know when he is and is not performing surgery,” said Hamdani. “Even though neurosurgeons, according to one study, are the highest paid physician specialists in the United States, Bindal allegedly submitted false claims in an effort to further enrich himself. To maintain the trust of the public in our federal health care system, it is imperative that medical professionals, such as neurosurgeons, bill accurately for the services provided. Otherwise, my office may get involved and seek to hold accountable anyone who violates that trust.”

“Ensuring that health care professionals are held accountable for submitting false claims to Medicare is essential for preserving public trust and safeguarding critical resources,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General (DHHS-OIG). “Dr. Bindal not only submitted false claims to Medicare but also deceived our most vulnerable population. DHHS-OIG and our law enforcement partners remain committed to working together to uphold the integrity of federal health care programs.”

“False claims come at a cost not only to our federal health care programs but also to the members who rely on these programs for necessary care,” said Special Agent in Charge Derek M. Holt of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM-OIG.) “We support the efforts of our law enforcement partners and colleagues to protect not only the integrity of federal health care programs but also the safety of federal employees, annuitants and their families.”  

The U.S. Attorney’s Office conducted the investigation with DHHS-OIG and OPM-OIG. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Collins handled the matter.

McALLEN, Texas – A 37-year-old man has been sentenced for straw purchasing and possessing child pornography on his cellphone, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Jose Angel Hinojosa Jr. pleaded guilty Jan. 19.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Hinojosa to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that cases like these are far from victimless, with many of the weapons being traced to Mexico. In handing down the sentence, the court emphasized the seriousness of these crimes, describing them as heinous and reaffirming that they have real victims and far-reaching consequences. 

From June 5, 2016, through May 9, 2022, Hinojosa engaged in firearms dealing by straw purchasing firearms from an online gun broker. He then arranged for the weapons to be exported into Mexico. Law enforcement was able to locate several weapons tied to Hinojosa. 

At the time of his plea, he admitted to attempting to smuggle more than 40 firearms. 

During the firearms investigation, authorities learned Hinojosa maybe linked to crimes involving child pornography. A search warrant was executed and authorities discovered several videos of minors engaging in sexual conduct on Hinojosa’s phone. Hinojosa admitted to receiving child pornography on his cellphone from various third parties.

Hinojosa was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility on Jan. 7, 2025.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation in conjunction with Homeland Security Investigations - Child Exploitation Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric D. Flores prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A 52-year-old woman has been sentenced in a wire fraud embezzlement scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Sonia Yvonne Rodriguez pleaded guilty Aug. 15.

U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett has now ordered Rodriguez to serve 23 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by one year of supervised release. At the hearing, the victim testified that the defendant, once considered one of her best friends, had deeply betrayed her. 

“This sentencing sends a clear message that those who abuse positions of trust for personal gain will face serious consequences,” said Hamdani. “Embezzlement schemes like this not only harm businesses financially but also shatter personal and professional relationships built on trust. We remain committed to holding offenders accountable and seeking justice for victims.”

For approximately 26 years, Sonia Yvonne Rodriguez worked as an office manager for a local heating, ventilating and air-conditioning company. 

At the time of her plea, Rodriguez admitted to embezzling $938,387.26 in business funds allocated for federal tax payments from 2015 to 2020. Rodriguez would key payments into the company’s accounting software for tax payments and subsequently clear out the payments from the check register upon making the payments into her personal bank account.

She was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Secret Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sherin Daniel and James Hu prosecuted the case. 

McALLEN, Texas – A 34-year-old man has pleaded guilty to possessing firearms while a felon, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. 

On Sept. 11, law enforcement stopped David Michael Saenz for a traffic violation, at which time they also smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Saenz informed law enforcement he was in possession of firearms.

A search of the vehicle revealed two handguns in a holster and two additional firearms in his vehicle. Authorities also found methamphetamine and marijuana in the vehicle.

Further investigation revealed Saenz was previously convicted of aggravated robbery in 2021. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms per federal law. Saenz also admitted to possessing one of the firearms to protect himself while engaging in drug dealing.

Chief U.S District Judge Randy Crane accepted the plea and set sentencing for February 4, 2025. At that time, Saenz faces up to 15 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Saenz has been and will remain in custody pending his sentencing. 

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Rio Grande City Police Department conducted the joint investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan is prosecuting the case as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program. In May 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced a new effort to reduce violent crime, including the gun violence that is often at its core. Integral to that effort was the reinvigoration of PSN, a two-decade old, evidence-based and community-oriented program focused on reducing violent crime. The updated PSN approach, outlined in the department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions. 

McALLEN, Texas – A 59-year-old Mexican citizen residing in Houston has been sentenced for his role in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Abiel Gudino-Garcia pleaded guilty Aug. 26.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Gudino to serve a total of 96 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court learned that Gudino initially claimed he had purchased diesel, but when confronted with the overwhelming evidence, he realized that authorities knew about the drug deal.

“This operation demonstrates the unwavering commitment to protecting our communities from the scourge of meth trafficking,” said Hamdani. “By intercepting this shipment and apprehending those involved, we are taking significant steps toward dismantling dangerous drug networks and ensuring public safety.”

In April 2018, Gudino arranged a meeting with drug traffickers in Houston to obtain a shipment of 80 gallons of liquid meth. Gudino was unaware that authorities had intercepted and seized the shipment in Rio Grande Valley before his planned delivery. Gudino arrived at the meeting location with empty gasoline tanks ready to transport the illegal substance and brought $15,000 for the purchase.

An undercover member of law enforcement posing as a trafficker handed Gudino what he believed was the meth. After the exchange, authorities followed Gudino to his home and detained him as part of their ongoing investigation.

Previously released on bond, Gudino was taken into custody following the sentencing where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Garcia and Cahal P. McColgan prosecuted the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A 26-year-old man has pleaded guilty to distributing liquid methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Authorities conducted an investigation revealing Jesus David Medrano Grimaldo intended to sell approximately 10 kilograms of what he knew to be an illegal controlled substance to another individual. Medrano made this initial sale in hopes of selling more illegal controlled substances.  

Law enforcement observed the transaction and watched as Medrano placed a jug containing a liquid in the other individual’s vehicle. Authorities later acquired the jug and determined the liquid to contain methamphetamine.

The liquid methamphetamine weighed approximately 10 kilograms.

Chief U.S District Judge Randy Crane accepted the plea and set sentencing for Feb. 3, 2025. At that time, Medrano faces up to life in federal prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine.

Medrano will remain in custody pending his sentencing.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan is prosecuting the case. 

LAREDO, Texas – Two individuals have been sentenced for their roles in firearms trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Dallas resident Luis Azael Berlanga, 21, and Juan Jose Moreno Jr., 20, a Laredo resident, both pleaded guilty Nov. 20.  

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo has now imposed a 60-month term of imprisonment for Berlanga, while Moreno received 48 months. Both must serve three years of supervised release following their sentences. At the hearing, the court heard the extensive evidence that showed Berlanga led the illegal operation, which involved numerous firearm sales in the Laredo area. The firearms contained machine-gun conversion devices (MCDs) modifying semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic (and illegal) machine guns. The court noted how such machine guns are often linked to devastating mass shootings. Judge Marmolejo also emphasized the serious consequences of the duo’s actions and noted they had chances every step of the way to say no. “It only hits home when this happens to you or one of your family members,” she said.

“MCDs present a unique and insidious threat to our communities – criminals can conceal something as small as a paperclip, install it in a legal gun, quickly converting the legal handgun into a machinegun, capable of firing hundreds of rounds of ammunition per minute,” said Hamdani. “MCDs often ending up in the hands of dangerous criminals, gang members and cartel assassins. This case represents the Southern District of Texas’ continued commitment to do everything it can to keep these types of weapons off the streets of Laredo and elsewhere.”

Between Jan. 24 and May 15, authorities coordinated with Berlanga to conduct three controlled purchases of the machine guns. Undercover members of law enforcement bought six functional machine guns from Berlanga.

As part of the plea agreement, Moreno admitted to participating in the sale of machine guns alongside Berlanga.

Berlanga and Moreno have been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Laredo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Ann Cortez prosecuted the case.

The case is part of “Operation Texas Kill Switch,” a statewide initiative taking aim at MCDs, which transform commercially available semi-automatic firearms into fully-automatic weapons capable of firing faster than military-grade machine guns. U.S. Attorneys Hamdani, Leigha Simonton, Damien Diggs and Jaime Esparza of the Southern, Northern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, respectively, have spearheaded Operation Texas Kill Switch which relies on partnerships with state and local law enforcement as well as rewards Crime Stoppers offers.

LAREDO, Texas – A Texan and a Mexican national have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport undocumented aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Juan Daniel Saldaña, 30, San Antonio, and Noe Alonso Moreno-Alvarez, 23, Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, pleaded guilty for their roles in the conspiracy.

On Sept. 13, law enforcement patrolling near Bruni observed two pickup trucks driving in tandem in high speed on FM Road 205. Saldana and Moreno-Alvarez were the respective drivers and were transporting several undocumented individuals in the stolen vehicles.

Attempting to evade authorities, both men crashed through a ranch fence. Saldana stopped after he collided into a tree and fled with his girlfriend. Moreno-Alvarez kept driving until he stopped some distance from the other truck.

The next day, law enforcement found and arrested both men as well as the illegally present individuals. Saldaña and Moreno-Alvarez admitted to driving through private ranches in attempts to circumvent a Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint. Saldaña used bolt and wire cutters to gain access to the ranches and expected to receive payment from smugglers in Mexico.

Saldaña admitted he worked for the alien smuggling organization for some time.

Moreno-Alvarez said he entered the United States illegally a few months ago and agreed to transport undocumented migrants to work off his smuggling fee. He drove the lead vehicle, but after abandoning the truck, he joined the group of migrants in an attempt avoid arrest. However, Saldaña and the others identified him as a driver.

U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña accepted the plea and will set sentencing at a later date. At that time, the men face up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Saldana and Moreno-Alvarez have been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.

Border Patrol conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Webb County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Homero Ramirez prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 36-year-old woman has pleaded guilty to attempting to smuggle children into the United States for financial gain, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

On Aug. 8, Sandra Perez applied for admission into the United States driving an SUV. She had her three minor U.S. citizen children with her along with two minor Mexican children.

Perez claimed the two Mexican children were also hers and attempted to present Texas birth certificates and Social Security cards that belonged to her two other children as proof.

After the Mexican children failed to answer authorities questions, Perez admitted to attempting to bring the Mexican children into the United States to the children’s mother in Fort Worth, knowing that they did not have legal authority to enter the country.

She also admitted she expected to receive $5,000 per child after delivery.

U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña accepted the plea and will set sentencing at a later date. At that time, Perez faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Perez was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.

Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Homero Ramirez is prosecuting the case.

LAREDO, Texas – Three more individuals are in custody for a human smuggling conspiracy that resulted in the July death of an undocumented individual, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.  

Mexican national David Alejandro Gomez Flores 28, and Laredo residents Dagoberto Mizzael Flores, 24, and Angel Misael Elias, 22, are expected to make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher dos Santos at 9:30 a.m.

A federal grand jury returned the superseding indictment Oct. 29.

Previously charged and arrested were Guatemalan national Edy Ronaldo Lima Flores, 36, and Mexican nationals Cynthia Gabriela Muniz Carreon, 29, and Martha Angelica Limon Parra, 29.

The charges allege that on July 2, authorities learned of a group of undocumented aliens loading into a Ford-150 near a ranch in Laredo. They allegedly began pursuing the vehicle which suddenly came to a stop before all occupants fled into the brush. Law enforcement was able to apprehend one female, identified as an undocumented individual from Guatemala, according to the charges.

They also located the body of a deceased male in the brush, according to the criminal complaint originally filed in the case. Upon further investigation, authorities were allegedly able to identify him as an undocumented Guatemalan national who was part of the earlier bailout.

The charges further allege they recovered a cell phone in the victim’s possession which showed direct communications with both Lima Flores and Carreon in the hours leading up to his death. The victim had allegedly reported that a rancher had seen them, and that he was hiding the in brush.

Authorities also discovered ledgers and communications in Parra’s cell phone that linked back to the same human smuggling organization involved in the July 2 bailout event, according to the charges. The communications allegedly dated back to April 2024 and referenced other human smuggling events, one of which resulted in serious bodily injury to a separate individual.

All six are charged with conspiracy to smuggle an undocumented alien, placing life in jeopardy, causing serious bodily injury and resulting in death and two substantive counts. They face up to life in federal prison and the possibility of death as well as a possible $250,000 fine, upon conviction.

Homeland Security Investigations (including the Laredo Gang Activity and Trafficking Enforcement Unit), Border Patrol, Laredo Police Department (including the Texas Anti-Gang Unit), Texas Department of Public Safety, Encinal Police Department and Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

This case is also the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). Attorney General Merrick B. Garland established JTFA in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Justice, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to combat the rise in prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. The initiative was expanded to Colombia and Panama to combat human smuggling in the Darién in June 2024. JTFA comprises detailees from U.S. attorneys’ offices along the southwest border including the Southern District of California, districts of Arizona and New Mexico and the Western and Southern Districts of Texas. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, and supported by the Office of Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training; Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section; Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section; Office of Enforcement Operations; Office of International Affairs; and the Violent Crime and Racketeering Section. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, Drug Enforcement Adminstration and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in over 325 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers and significant facilitators of human smuggling, more than 270 U.S. convictions, more than 210 significant jail sentences imposed and forfeitures of substantial assets.

Assistant U.S. Attorney and JTFA detailee Jennifer Day is prosecuting this case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

HOUSTON – A 28-year-old Houston resident has been sentenced for carjacking during which one victim was repeatedly struck with a pistol, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Dominique Luis-Donte Quinones-Amos pleaded guilty Feb. 12.

U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen has now ordered Quinones-Amos to serve 108 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.

At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that detailed his arrests in the Los Angeles vicinity for burglary and grand theft auto. In handing down the sentence, the court noted his previous convictions which included one for felony assault of a family member impeding breathing or circulation in which the victim lost consciousness.   

“Quinones-Amos engaged in a series of offenses that put the people of this district in danger in a variety of ways – a carjacking, brandishing a gun, using fully-automatic conversion devices and even financial crimes,” said Hamdani. “This office will not allow such dangers to go unanswered, and today’s sentence will keep the community safe for several years to come from this one-man wrecking crew.”

As a convicted felon, Quinones-Amos was prohibiting from possessing a firearm or ammunition per federal law. However, law enforcement had discovered social media postings in which he appeared to be selling two firearms with extended magazines and firing a firearm with a machine gun conversion device (MCD) which makes a semi-automatic handgun operate as a fully automatic handgun. 

Upon his arrest, authorities found him again in possession of another firearm.

During the investigation, law enforcement was able to tie Quinones-Amos to the violent carjacking that occurred Oct. 4, 2021.

On that date, two men were returning to an apartment complex located on Dunlap Street in a 2013 Dodge Avenger. Once they exited the vehicle into the parking lot, Quinones-Amos approached the two men, striking one in the face. That victim subsequently fled.

Quinones-Amos then pointed a firearm at the driver and struck him in his face with the gun multiple times. Quinones-Amos entered and drove off in the victim’s vehicle while he laid motionless on the ground.

Law enforcement later recovered the vehicle and were able to link it to Quinones-Amos through DNA testing.

In addition, the investigation further revealed Quinones-Amos was selling fraudulent credit cards and money orders in the names of other people.

Quinones-Amos will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Houston Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Laurence Goldman prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A 28-year-old man has been indicted for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani and FBI Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams Jr.

Anas Said is now in custody and set for a detention hearing at 2 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray. Authorities arrested Said Nov. 8.

According to court documents, multiple social media accounts linked to Said contained messages and posts that allegedly revealed that Said supported ISIS and the violent attacks carried out in its name. 

Law enforcement executed searches of Said and his residence, vehicle and electronic devices. According to court documents, analysis of the seized devices ultimately revealed Said’s activities relating to the creation and dissemination of propaganda on behalf of ISIS.

If convicted, Said faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

FBI Houston's Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) conducted the investigation with special assistance from Houston and Sugar Land Police Departments and Harris County Sheriff’s Office. The JTTF is comprised of Houston Police Department, sheriff’s offices in Harris and Montgomery Counties, Sugar Land Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, IRS – Criminal Investigation, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Secret Service, Houston Metro Police Department, Customs and Border Protection and Federal Air Marshals Service.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.